Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 12:02:28 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Outhouse fan
In-Reply-To: <A09A92A1-937A-4204-8D62-0423D212C01B@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
"Ice" and "frost" are both a hard, clear or white form of "frozen"
water. This occurs when the air temperature is below 32F, or if there is
a surface that is below 32F which is repeatedly exposed to humid air. In
the case of the Dometic, frequent opening of the door to the
refrigerator (to pull out beers, for example), can bring humid air into
the unit, where the water will freeze to the fins of the reefer's
heatsink. This can happen even when the temperature in the Dometic is
above 50F because the fins are a darn sight colder.
I contend that this is why Mark, who frequently camps on spectacular
beaches along the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico, where daytime temps are
high but air humidity is also, gets that ice build up. I also contend
that his reefer's internal temp is not much more than 40F less than
outside temp. Mark possibly thinks I'm a nitwit, or that I have a faulty
Dometic. Either way, there is a schism here. A deeply-divisive issue
which requires, nay /demands/, investigation.
Only scientific testing will answer. Only the use of advanced
temperature measuring equipment*, accurate recording of data, a white
lab coat, and a clipboard will do. A lab assistant (preferably named
"Beaker," [although "Inga," as played by a young Teri Garr, is another
option]) could be helpful.
*Three-buck thermometer.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
Jeffrey Vickers typed:
> I'll go halves with you on that thermometer in the interest of
> refridgerated science... and Mark--- we'll need to see photo evidence of
> this mysterious "frost" you refer to. And what is this thing you call
> "ice"?
>
>
>
> On Jun 16, 2007, at 11:23 AM, Michael Elliott wrote:
>
>> Mark notably has the magic Dometics. He and I have gone round and
>> round about these things. I've done a lot of testing and my Dometic,
>> which is clean and works fine, has never achieved what I consider
>> satisfactory cooling when the temps go over 90F -- I like my temps
>> under 50F for the food and it can't do it.
>>
>> He reports ice on the cooling fins in his, which I would expect from
>> moist air and cold fins, so I want hard data. To prove his Dometic's
>> magic-ness, he's gonna need to stick a thermometer in his reefer and
>> tell us what the temp differential is between the outside air and the
>> Dometic's interior.
>>
>> Mark, I'll buy you that thermometer if you'll meet me at Denault's
>> before you leave on what I bet is a sweet trip. If your reefer keeps
>> the air temp on the middle shelf below 50F during the middle of a 95F+
>> day I'll stand you to some cold IPAs at Henneseys.
>>
>> --Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeffrey Vickers typed:
>>> Mark! You have one of the few fusion-powered fridges that VW must
>>> have snuck into production back in the 80s. I've done all the
>>> cleaning, inverting and mods that can be done including a Camping
>>> World fridge fan inside and I really can't hope for more than a
>>> 35-45F difference between air and fridge temp. At the end of a 90F
>>> day its almost 50F in the fridge. I'm tempted to try venting the
>>> fridge hot air, but even more tempted to get a Norcold since I plan
>>> on installing a good sized aux battery under the rear seat as well.
>>> Jeff
>>> On Jun 16, 2007, at 10:42 AM, Mark Drillock wrote:
>>>> I have camped in 90-100 degree weather MANY times and the stock
>>>> Dometic works fine. The fins ice up in a day or so and are
>>>> completely frozen solid in a week. I do have an outside vent
>>>> mounted behind mine. This was done to keep the heat from the fridge
>>>> from making it even hotter inside the van but also helps the
>>>> Dometic cool better.
>>>>
>>>> I am planning to camp next week where the forecast is 109-111
>>>> degrees all 5 days we plan to be there. I will let you know if this
>>>> exceeds the Dometic's operating range.
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>> Jeffrey Vickers wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I think it would be better to vent the airspace behind the fridge
>>>>> rather than introduce air into it. I don't use my city water hookup
>>>>> and I've often thought that a tiny computer fan in place of the
>>>>> hookup might do the trick. You'd need to prop the little city water
>>>>> door open a bit when using it. I also have the GoWesty pump and fan
>>>>> upgrade which is a MUCH better fan and cools the fins much better.
>>>>> Really quiet. Bottom line is that nothing is going to keep the Dam-
>>>>> etic cool when the temps get up past the 80s. I could sell you my
>>>>> fridge and all my upgrades later this year when I get a Norcold...
>>>>> = )
>>>>> Jeff
>>>>
>>
>
>
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